NO. 50. — 1899.] ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERY. 



15 



ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERY RELATING TO THE 

 PORTUGUESE IN CEYLON. 



In September, 1898, the attention of His Excellency the 

 Governor was directed by His Excellency Monsignor Zaleski 

 the Delegate Apostolic, to the discovery of a Portuguese 

 coat of arms with date 1501 (apparently) inscribed on a rock 

 at the site of the old Breakwater Office in the Fort of 

 Colombo. 



The correspondence regarding the discovery was referred 

 by the Director of the Colombo Museum to some gentlemen 

 for their opinions ; and interesting information of historical 

 value has been elicited. 



At the request of the Director of the Colombo Museum, 

 the Government has placed the correspondence at the dis- 

 posal of the Society with a view to publication. 



From the correspondence the following is selected, as 

 bearing directly on the subject and recording facts of 

 antiquarian interest. The letters, &c, are published in 

 order to put on record information of value to the student 

 of history, and also in the hope that further light may be 

 thrown upon the interesting discovery. 



Precis of Appendix. 



I. — Letter from the Delegate Apostolic to His Excellency the 

 Governor drawing attention to the discovery of the stone. 



II. ' — Account in the Ceylon Independent of September 7, 1898, 

 regarding the discovery. 



III. — Report of the Assistant Engineer, Colombo, describing the 

 boulder and forwarding photographs. 



IV. — Letter from Mr. Advocate F. H. de Vos giving the heraldic 

 reading of the coat of arms and questioning the reading " 1501." 



* See lithograph. 



